News
Armed soldiers forcing CPC employees to act against their will – Unions
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government was threatening petroleum workers and forcing them to work against their will, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) trade union leaders said, protesting against the deployment of the police and the military in CPC premises.
CPC unions on Tuesday withdrew from issuing fuel in protest against the government’s decision to privatise a large portion of the retail fuel sector. The government called in the military to ensure the supply of fuel.
Despite disruptions, fuel supply had returned to normal by yesterday evening, the government claimed.
President of the Public Progressive Workers’ Association, Bandula Saman Kumara, said that they had stepped forth to protect the CPC knowing well that their jobs would be on the line.
“We have been sent on compulsory leave and banned from entering our workplace. We will not betray our struggle and Minister Kanchana must understand that the CPC is not his property,” he said.
Saman Kumara said the unions were against the sale of national assets and concerned about the jobs of CPC workers.
“The workers have decided to report to duty but they will not work,” he said.
CPC General Employees Union President Ashoka Ranwala said it was the government that compelled them to resort to union action.
“The minister didn’t even give us a hearing. The government has called in thousands of armed soldiers and they are intimidating the CPC workers. They have gone to the houses of CPC workers and forced them to return to work. However, this will not end well for anyone,” he said.
Twenty CPC workers including several union leaders had been sent on compulsory leave for disrupting the distribution of fuel, Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera said, adding that they would not be allowed to enter any of the CPC premises.
“We have also asked the CPC and law enforcement agencies to take disciplinary and legal action against these individuals. I called in security forces to ensure the distribution of fuel and that they dispatched 458 bowsers of petrol and 393 bowsers of diesel.
Those who have been sent on compulsory leave are B.G.D. Dilan Gamage, Premanath Gamage, Samika, Bandula Saman Kumara, Asoka Ranwala, S.M.C.S. Chinthaka Gunasekara, M.A.S.W. Nishantha, R.A. Ranathunga, S.M.D.J. Wijegunaratne, P.N.Perera, U.E.G. Sanjeewa Priyadarshana, H.U.K. Serasinghe, D.S. Dheeraka Balasooriya, G.H. Niluka, S.D. Jayantha Paregama, S.D.S. Sarda Dissanayake, U.D. Palitha, S.H.R. Virajith, Damith Priyantha and R.A.C.S. Ranaweera.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
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